Chinese Jiali Chair

Pale grain streaks the splat like rain running down a window.

This Jiali chair comes from China and dates to the 20th century. The recessed seat panel, set into a surrounding frame, is a standard of Chinese joinery that lets the wood move with the seasons without splitting. The horseshoe back sweeps in a single arc to scrolled ends, resting on curved arm supports and a wide, gently curved splat. Below the square seat, shaped aprons and stretchers brace four straight legs. The wood has a warm brown tone with pale, open grain. It is 22.5 inches long, 17.5 deep and 30 high.

Built to outlast the fashions around it, which it largely has.